2024 F1 General Discussion Thread

A lot of disappointed people in this thread tonight, they’re dissappointed that Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing and his accuser has been rightfully dismissed from RB.

back to business and the racing .

Are the text messages legit? Has any credible source actually come out and said they are real or fake?

Suspended with pay.

When they're in this kind of dispute and the source of the leak hasn't been officially* determined, I'm sure they can't actually trust her to be around sensitive information. Suspension with pay is probably fair enough, considering the circumstances.

*I imagine she's the main suspect in the leak.

Yeah they're in a tight situation, it's pretty clear to anyone with a bit of sense that everything has been done in a totally above board way as a company of that size would leave nothing to chance and would never suspend someone for making an allegation unless the legal case is completely watertight. But they're tied up by privacy legislation in their ability to release the actual facts, leaving the malicious actors in the media and the knuckle draggers on social media free to keep running with fabrications and rumours instead to keep drumming up bad publicity and trying to dig into Horner's personal life. It's utterly vile to see. I wonder if we'll end up seeing some of the worst offenders in the media up in the courts for libel.

Sainz is out this weekend due to appendicitis.

I hope Carlos makes a smooth recovery from his operation whenever he has it as we need the smooth operator back in the Ferrari as soon as possible.

He will be assessed by doctors fit guy like him should be able to recover but the doctor would have the final say. He may have to wait till Japan

Marko has told Austrian TV station ORF that he may be suspended on Monday by Red Bull.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that it's linked to allegations of breaching confidentiality.

Max in response has come out very strongly stating that Helmet is key to his future at Red Bull and that he must stay at Red Bull .

Multiple media outlets reporting that Max has a get out clause if Helmet leaves.

What a mess......

Helmut has been a loose cannon for quite a while now and I'd personally be happy to see him gone. He's said some questionable things over the years but he's 80 now surely he wouldn't be hanging working for the team for much longer. For RedBull to lose Verstappen would be a massive blow to the team, he can single handedly win the constructors for the team. Where would RedBull even go if they lost Verstappen, no driver that's part of RedBull currently is good enough to lead the team and if they look elsewhere the options are limited

So the leaks came from Marko looks like it. What absolute Sh*t show the whole situation is now. Power play by dirty practice and from beginning of last weekend when CH was looking to be on his way out. Today's news has highlighted his wingman and its not looking good Hulmet has said on Sky Germany. Remember Marko signed Verstappen. Max has clearly said Helmut has to stay for sure. So If Marko goes I don't think there is anyway of avoiding the Iceberg.

Ford aren't making the engine, red bull are. So it's possible that they know what sort of performance will be expected from it in 2026, maybe it'll be a tractor and they're looking for an out?

It appears that Christian Horner was texting this woman, which initially began as light banter but escalated into mild sexting. My assumption is that he was cleared of any wrongdoing due to the consensual nature of their interactions. However, there seems to be tension between Jos and Helmut, who hold negative opinions of Horner and may desire his removal. Recently, the lady involved in this situation may have become part of an anti-Horner narrative, likely influenced by Jos and Helmut, who may have encouraged her to come forward and label Horner as a “bold boy.” If the text messages are authentic, it suggests that someone connected to these three individuals leaked the messages, and there are indications that Helmut might have been involved.

The situation becomes precarious for Jos and Helmut if Horner was indeed not engaged in inappropriate texting with this woman. In that case, they could face significant consequences. While it’s hard to definitively conclude whether the entire scenario was fabricated, it remains a possibility. Perhaps Horner explained to his wife that he was merely flirting and had no intention of acting on it.

Regarding Red Bull Racing, many believe they heavily rely on Max Verstappen. However, I’m inclined to think that they could entice drivers like Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, or Charles Leclerc away from their current contracts without much concern. Max is undeniably talented, but the car’s performance plays a crucial role. Let’s be candid about it.